Military of the United Kingdom
| Military of the United Kingdom
|
|---|
| Military manpower
|
| Availability | males age 15-49: 14,877,666 (2003 est.)
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| Fit for military service | males age 15-49: 12,353,942 (2003 est.)
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| Military expenditures
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| Dollar figure | $36.884 billion (FY97/98)
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| Percent of GDP | 2.32% (2002)
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The armed forces of the United Kingdom are managed by the Ministry of Defence.
The British Armed Forces are charged with protecting the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, promoting Britain's wider security interests, and supporting international peacekeeping efforts. They are active and regular participants in NATO and other coalition operations.
The British Army had a reported strength of 110,000 in 2001, including 7,600 women, and the Royal Air Force a strength of 54,000. The 42,000-member Royal Navy is in charge of the United Kingdom's independent strategic nuclear arm, which consists of four Trident missile submarines, while the Royal Marines provide commando units for amphibious assault and for specialist reinforcement forces in and beyond the NATO area.
Britain and France field the most powerful and diverse militaries in Europe and are two of the few countries who have shown the capacity and willingness to keep up with the technological lead of the United States armed forces. Despite Britain's wide ranging capabilies all of the country's major defence reviews have envisaged fighting a war in a coalition; Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq (Desert Storm, No-Fly-Zones, Desert Fox and Iraqi Freedom) may all be taken as precedent.
| Military Strength of the United Kingdom
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|---|
| Army
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| Main Battle Tanks | 594 Challenger 2
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| Personnel | 114,800
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| Royal Navy
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| Submarines | 11
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| Ballistic Submarines | 4
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| Aircraft Carriers | 3
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| Destroyers | 11
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| Frigates | 21
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| Patrol Boats | 20
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| Personnel | 42,400
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| Royal Air Force
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| Aircraft | 468
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| Personnel | 53,300
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Branches
Recent Defence Reviews
See also
